d the lad as he talked
of his interest in him and how he had known more of his sins and
downward life than Job ever dreamed.

"Now," he said, "they tell me you have joined the Methodists--have got
religion or whatever you call it. Stick to it, boy. Andy Malden's too
old to ever change his views. You may be right or not, but anyway I'd
rather see you go to Methodist meetin' than Pete's saloon. You're
going to have a hard time of it, boy; these pesky Deans, who owe all
they are to me, hate you because you are mine. As long as you live
with Andy Malden, you will have to suffer. Sometimes I think it ain't
worth while--what do you care for an old man?"

Again the voice ceased, and Job trembled, he hardly knew why.

"Boy," up spoke the old man again, "boy, it isn't worth while! I will
give you a bag of nuggets, and you can take Bess and go to-morrow down
to the city and get some learnin' and be somethin', and be out of this
everlastin' quarrelsome world of Grizzly county, and never see the
Deans again. I will stand it; I lived alone before you came, and I
suppose I can do it again. Only a few years and I will be gone; God
knows where--if there is a God."

By this time Job was choked with emotion. All his nature was aroused.
He fairly loved this strange old man. Looking up, he begged him not to
send him away; stay he would, whatever it cost; and he would be as
true a son to him as a strong young fellow could.

At that, the old man rose, went into the house, and came back with
something that glittered in his hand.

"Take this, Job, put it in your hip-pocket, and the first time any one
of the Deans, big or little, insults you, put a bullet through him."

Job shrank back at sight of the revolver.

"No! Oh, no! I can't take that! Down at the camp-meeting I promised
God to love my enemies, uncle. I can't take that."

Then Job poured out his heart to Andrew Malden. He told of his
conversion, of his trust in God, and that he was no longer afraid of
the Deans or of anything.

"Humph! humph!", said the old man. "Well, I won't argue with you, boy;
but as for me, I'd rather trust my hip-pocket when I have to deal with
the people of Grizzly county. Do as you please. But I'll keep this
revolver, and death to the man that harms a hair of Job Malden, the
only one in all the world that Andy Malden loves."

The old man's voice trembled, and he walked into the house and shut
the door; and Job knew the talk was over for that night.